Improvement in post-hole excavators



J. D. OWEN.

Post Hole Excavator. I

No. 33,814. Patented Nbv. 26, 1861.

171/12 enzor Wfliwai e6 9 WWW 1'08? A, m; W JW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. D. OWEN, or OARLINVILLE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 HIMSELF, E. L. OWEN, AND G. W. BARNETT.

IMPROVEMENT IN POST-HOLE EXCAVATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 33,8 l4, dated November 26, 1861.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, .T. D. OWEN, of Gar-linville, in the county ot'Macoupin and State of Illinois, have invented anew and useful Machine for Excavating Post-Holes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The object of this invention isto excavate holes in the ground for the insertion of posts; and it consists of a metal cylinder, which is forced into the earth to the depth required for the reception of the post, and is then withdrawn with the inclosed soil, somewhat after the manner of a hollow punch or a sugar or button tap. Theearth is subsequently punched out of the cylinder by striking on a rod fitted into a follower within the cylinder.

Figure l is a plan, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. Sis an elevation, of the said machine of myinvention, whichI usually term a post-hole excavator.

The cylinder a a is made with its interior slightly enlarged or flaring like a bell -mouth toward the lower edge. I) b b are braces supporting the head 0. (I is a follower fitting loosely within the cylinder, and e e is a rod passing through the head 0 and resting upon the follower d.

The operation of my machine is as follows: The follower d is placed upon the ground in the position where it is desired to excavate the hole. The cylinder aais then placed over it, and forced into the earth by striking on the head 0 with a maul, or in any other suitablejmanner. When it has been sunk sufficiently deep, as is represented in Fig. 3, it may be removed with its contained earth by prying it up with a lever inserted between the braces I) I) under the head; or it may be lifted by a couple of men. When it has been pulled up the earth may be removed from its interior by inserting the rodethrough thehole in the head 0, as is shown in Fig. 2, and striking it with a maul, which will cause the follower d to force out the earth.

Having thus described the nature and operation of my said invention, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the cylinder (1, the follower d, and the rod 0, when constructed and arranged substantially as described, for the purpose of excavating holes for posts.

Witnesses: J. D. OWEN.

J. P. Woons, ALLIN GooKRELL. 

